More than 1.8 billion Muslims throughout the world are now marking Ramadan 2026, a sacred time for fasting, self-reflection, and spiritual renewal. As the holy month enters its second week on March 18, 2026, millions of individuals are using the times for Sehri and Iftar to organize their fasts around the times of sunrise and sunset. These times are vital for keeping the fast from sunrise to dusk. Because of the Earth’s rotation and the lunar calendar, they change every day. This is why people all around the world need to acquire accurate information.
What Ramadan Fasting Is and How It Works
Muslims who may must not eat, drink, smoke, or do other physical things from Sehri, the meal before dawn, until Iftar, the meal that breaks the fast at sundown. This is during Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Fasting, or sawm, helps people be more disciplined, feel sorry for others who are less fortunate, and get closer to Allah. The crescent moon was sighted on March 2, 2026, which was the commencement of Ramadan. Local moon-sighting committees made this date a little different in each place.
The regular practice of fasting indicates how Ramadan is a time for everyone. Families get together for Sehri in the quiet time before Fajr prayer. They eat dates, fruits, yogurt, and liquids that keep them hydrated so they can get through the day. Like the Prophet Muhammad did, iftar usually starts with dates and water. Then, people enjoy a meal using dishes from the locality. The moon is waxing early this year, thus the times for fasting range from 11 hours in Indonesia to more than 15 hours in some parts of Europe and North America.
The more people from all around the world who take part in Ramadan, the more it matters. There are more than 200 million Muslims in India. Community iftars in cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Lucknow bring people from all walks of life together, which helps them get along. The UAE and Saudi Arabia set up big tents in the Middle East for breaking fast. Mosques in Western countries vary their hours to correspond with the changes in daylight saving time.
Getting the times for Sehri and Iftar on March 18, 2026
The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) employs astronomical calculations to figure out the exact times for Sehri and Iftar, or regional standards like Umm al-Qura in Saudi Arabia. Sehri ends at true dawn (Fajr), which is around 90 minutes before sunrise, and Iftar starts at sunset (Maghrib).
On March 18, 2026, which is today, Sehri in Mumbai ends at 5:45 AM IST and Iftar starts at 6:55 PM IST. This means that the fast lasts for about 13 hours and 10 minutes. Sehri concludes in Delhi at 5:20 AM IST and Iftar starts at 6:35 PM IST, which is around 13 hours and 15 minutes. In Riyadh, Sehri ends at 4:30 AM AST and Iftar starts at 6:10 PM AST. This is 13 hours and 40 minutes. Sehri concludes at 4:50 AM GMT in London, and Iftar starts at 6:25 PM GMT, which is 13 hours and 35 minutes. New York observes from 5:10 AM EDT to 7:05 PM EDT, which is around 13 hours and 55 minutes. Jakarta’s time zone is WIB, which is 12 hours and 35 minutes ahead of UTC. These are samples based on average predictions for 2026. Because the times fluctuate by 1 to 2 minutes every day, people should check with their local mosques or organizations like Muslim Pro for very specific modifications.
Sehri ends about 5:40 AM IST and Iftar starts around 6:52 PM IST in Nashik, Maharashtra, which is relevant for local readers. This is in keeping with India’s western longitude. This level of precision makes sure that everyone respects the rules, especially since the longest fasts occurred in the middle of Ramadan when the moon’s orbit lines up with the equinoxes.
Why the times for Iftar and Sehri alter every day
The solar year and the lunar Hijri calendar work together to modify the times of Sehri and Iftar every day. Every 365.25 days, the Earth travels around the Sun. This means that the sun rises about a minute earlier every day in the same spot. The moon’s 29.5-day cycle, on the other hand, is what Ramadan follows. Months on the Gregorian calendar go back 10 to 12 days every year.
Because of this imbalance, things alter over time. The sun advances westward by around 4 minutes for every 111 km of longitude change. In India, the times are 30 to 40 minutes difference from east (Kolkata: shorter fasts) to west (Ahmedabad: longer). Because the lunar calendar shifts, Ramadan 2026 started around the spring equinox, which meant that the first fasts were only 13 hours long. As March ends and the days become longer, the lengths get longer too, just like they did after Eid. Sehri uses astronomical twilight, which is when the sun is 18° below the horizon. Most other methods use civil twilight, which is when the sun is 6° below the horizon. This adds 10 to 15 minutes to the time. Regional fatwas, like India’s Markazi Auqaf, make this fair by making it the same for everyone.
In the winter and summer, changes are bigger. People in cold places like Scandinavia, where the sun shines all day, have trouble fasting, thus they are given exceptions. Climate change doesn’t change the times, but it does change the refraction rates a little. Apps acquire updates in real time by using GPS and atomic clocks. #Ramadan2026 is the trend.Times are getting longer on social media.
Health and nutrition tips During Ramadan in 2026
Because the times for fasting change every day, you need to be careful about what you eat so that you don’t get dehydrated or exhausted. Experts recommend that Sehri should include a lot of slow-release carbs (such oats and nutritious grains), proteins (like eggs and lentils), and electrolytes (like coconut water). Don’t drink caffeine before dawn to avoid headaches when you stop taking it.
Iftar is all about drinking water and eating three dates, then soups, salads, and lean proteins. It’s vital to regulate your portions because eating too much can cause difficulties in your intestines.
Here are some important health tips.
To keep yourself well-hydrated, try to drink 2 to 3 liters of water, fruit juices, and oral rehydration salts from Iftar until Sehri.
As for exercise, light walks after Iftar can help with digestion, though more intense workouts are best saved for the evening.
Today’s Sehri and Iftar times for Ramadan 2026, and why they change every day
